I bought this model 60 for my spouse sometime in the early 1970s, but she almost never carries it. Had the hammer bobbed and jeweled, the trigger smoothed. Lovely little handgun.




I got this model 317 a few years ago. Wow, is she light! I enjoy shooting her, except that the sights are not spot on and I find that annoying. I love fixed sights when they shoot to point-of-aim, but when they don't....






I don't remember when I purchased this 3" J-frame. It came from the NYPD Equipment Section ($70 odd bucks). They were unloading their "Police Woman's" guns. At one point female officers carried either a .32 revolver (ugh) or the newer heavy barrel 3" J-frames. Naming this gun the Police Woman's gun was its death knell. Probably one of the finest personnal defense revolvers, if not handguns, ever designed, guys wouldn't carry it because of the name. I remember one officer I was speaking with suggest that if they renamed it the "Investigator" model they wouldn't be able to keep them in the Equipment Section. I have no doubt he was correct.

Anyway, the grips on this handgun are from Fuzzy Farrant. Flat and without checkering on the side closest to the body, checkered with palm swell on the other side. I had the grip cut off at the base of the frame. This to permit my pinky to get under there and keep the muzzle from whipping up in recoil.


Oh, one other thing about the heavy barrel J-frames. They had full size sights! When I was a lieutenant in the Firearms and Tactics Section I had a chance to order the then new to us stainless J-frames with full-size sights (the 2" models used to come with this dinky 1/10" wide, impossible to pick up front sight). Ever since, J-frames have been made with the larger width sights. Blame it on yours truly.

Nice little 317 but oh my are they expensive these days. Anyway, they can be fitted with sights but you have to be very determined $.

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Dan Ortego ~

Nice group of J frames! Here's my little family of oldies but goodies.

Nice set of steel wheels. What models are first and second from the top?

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Dan Ortego ~

35-1 first and 651 second-- then a 63 and finally a 34-1 RB nickel

How about a mess of J frame 22s with target sights. Top to bottom: Model 317, Model 63, Model 34, Model 43, Model 63.

I think the most practical and effective solution to the problem with the sights alinement issue is to use laser sights. Here's a set of Lasermax J grips on my EDC 432PD. I have the same type of grips on my 642, and us Crimson Trace grips on my K and N framed pistols - both with fixed and adjustable sights.

Regards,

Dave

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D-Oh! Here's a photo of the other side of the 432 showing the laser. Included is my BUG Seecamp .32ACP.

Best of luck,

Dave

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D-O-D you sound like a guy that know's his J frames.
Back before all the itty-bitty wonder 9's came along we all carried J frames...


... and some of us still do!

GF

Blame? It was a great idea, and I certainly thank you, as should everyone who now benefits from the better sights. However, I have some (mis?)information that would seem to indicate that you were still a sergeant when you got that spec included. Of the four "initial" Model 60 NY-1 revolvers, my source lists only one as going to a LT, Cerar, of course. BTW, Roy Jinks informed me personally (at an appearance at Potomac Arms in Alexandria VA) that when S&W first made those larger front sights, they failed to open up the channel that formed the rear sight. Fortunately, they caught that one before the guns went out the door, unlike some other problems.

Sorry, Model520Fan, but I was the Lt. in the letter! The letter is right in front of me (on my office wall):

"On July 10th 1987 four Model 60 NY-1 revolvers were transported to the New York City Police Department's Training Facility at Rodmans Neck, New York.

The serial numbers of the these guns are (and there are four sets of numbers, each ending in 0001)."

The letter went on to say that the NY City modifications "as designed by the following men and officers of the NYPD" and listed four of us:

PO Gerry Casson, PO Ron Kennedy, Lt. Rich Rosenthal (yours truly) and Capt. John Cerar.

I sent a letter to Roy Jinks asking just how rare were "0001" serial numbers, having been told there were about a dozen out there prior to ours being done. He sent me back a vague reply. Sigh.

That little model 60 is a "safe queen." I never even opened the cylinder. Came in a wood presentation box. I also have the regular box that belongs to the revolver plus the letter from Roy Jinks.

Best,

Rich

Well, my excuse is senility, also known as CRS. As a matter of fact, I actually played my first game of bocce on my 65th birthday, so I guess I'm officially old.

Here is my current family of J-frames

Ironically, I heard the story of the 3" j-frames being made for NYPD Police Women for the first time at a gun show in Macon, GA Saturday. I had my Model 36-1 with me and as I was having the cop cut the plastic tie off as I left, a fellow wanted to know what I wanted for it. I told him it wasn't for sale. He then told me the story of the 3" guns being made for NYC Police Women. I agree with you about it being a fine defensive revolver. It isn't as heavy and bulky as a K-frame. It is much, much easier to shoot accurately than a 2" j-frame. I understand that velocity from the 3" barrel is much greater than from the 2" versions. I had seen one in a pawn shop about 20 years ago, and have wanted one since. Mine showed up in my local Gun Store about a year ago. I snatched it right off the shelf.

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Georgia On My Mind

Chalk me up as a lover of the mighty J frame too!

I've carried a model 38 (no dash) Airweight Bodyguard from the mid 80's (serial # AHH57xx) in my front pocket since October 2008.

I just recently purchased a blued, 2 inch model 36 Chief's Special no dash (from the same era - 1984/85) and I also have a model 649 (no dash again!) in lay-away, which is also from the same era as the model 36 & 38.

Yep! I do love me some J frames!

I have a 3" model 60 that makes a real good truck gun:

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Don't Squat With Your Spurs On